~ Random stories

Could be here for a while

The US Senate has passed a law that makes it illegal for the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay to challange their imprisonment in US federal courts. This brings them into direct conflict with the US Supreme Court after their decision in Rasul v. Bush which stated the exact opposite.

For the first time in over 200 years a proposed change in the law means that British prosecutors will have the right to question witnesses before trial. If I was in the dock this type of ‘witness coaching’ would make me very worried. On the other hand if I was a victim (this law is largely to deal with the awful prosecution statistics for rape) I would have a different opinion. Another one that is difficult to say. Have to wait and see.

Another record set for America’s titanic debt. With more of the country owned by China and other foreign states every day things aren’t looking good for the US of A. Most of this debt has been run up in the last 10 years and there is no plan to reduce the rate of increase never mind the debt burden itself – so much for the party of small government. Heavily in debt country plus mega rich micro minority plus impoverished soon-to-be majority plus lots and lots of guns… I wouldn’t like to be an American in 20 years time.

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1 thought on “Could be here for a while”

Interesting piece on this in the Grauniad today. Apparently, it is completely normal for prosecutors to speak with witnesses in the US and Canada and lawyers there were astonished at our way of doing it. How do you establish if there’s even a case to prosecute?, one is said to have asked the reporter. The historical reason for it here was stated to be that, way back when, most English prosecutions were brought privately (for which read, by the rich and privileged) and this restriction was intended to prevent the prosecution bribing the witnesses. If you’re talking about ‘coaching’, it does seem a little unbalanced that the defece can coach the accused but the prosecution can’t coach the alleged victim.